Celebrity Death

Stephen Hawking's contributions to science are almost too much for Bill Nye the Science Guy to grasp, because they require thinking beyond what actually exists. Yeah, buckle up.

We got Bill Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol, where he was repping for the Planetary Society. He says that's how he was able to meet the late, genius physicist/cosmologist.

Bill says Stephen's legacy isn't about any single discovery, it's more about changing the way people think about the cosmos, and he takes a stab at explaining it to our camera guy, too.

The man who shot and killed ex-NFL RB Joe McKnight could be spending the rest of his life in a prison cell.

Ronald Gasser, 56, was just sentenced to 30 years behind bars ... less than 2 months after he was found guilty of manslaughter in a Louisiana courtroom. The maximum sentence he faced was 40 years.

Gasser was originally charged with 2nd-degree murder, but the jury elected for the lesser charge of manslaughter after more than 7 hours of deliberation back on Jan. 26.

McKnight -- who played for the Jets and Chiefs from 2010-2014 -- was gunned down by Gasser during a road-rage incident on Dec. 1, 2016, which ended when Gasser shot McKnight 3 times through his passenger side window.

Joe was only 28.

McKnight's mother, Jennifer, gave a victim impact statement before the sentencing, saying -- "That day, you didn't have to do that. That didn't have to happen. It hurts. It's going to hurt a long time."

Michelle Quick, the mother of Joe's 8-year-old son, also addressed Gasser before leaving the courtroom in tears.

"It will be my life's mission to make sure my son, Jaiden, doesn't grow up with hate for you. Not because you don't deserve it, but because he should not have hate in his heart."

FYI, Gasser's lawyer's filed a motion for a new trial before the sentencing -- claiming he was clearly acting in self-defense -- but the judge rejected their proposal.

Big Pun IS forever at Walmart, but his widow ain't happy about it ... so, she's filed a lawsuit against the retail giant.

Liza Rios is going after Walmart for a line of clothing and merch it sells which bear the late Bronx rapper's name and image. In the suit, she says some of the items straight-up jacked the trademark she got after Pun died in 2000 -- a Jordan-esque image of Pun soaring with a mic in his hand, instead of a basketball.

Most of the clothing and gear -- which includes phone cases, mugs and bags -- is made by a company called Redbubble, and Liza's suing them as well as Walmart.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, Walmart, Rebubble and other manufacturers are willfully infringing on her trademark ... because they have full knowledge of its existence, yet continue to use it without authorization.

Ms. Pun is suing for all profits, and and injunction to block further sales.

She's also demanding $10 million in statutory damages from manufacturers Redbubble and Cloudflare, but not Walmart.

Attorney Shawn Holley, a member of O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team" that got him acquitted of double murder, says she was disturbed by Simpson's interview with Judith Regan, but it doesn't necessarily mean he committed the crime.

Holley, who worked for Johnnie Cochran during the trial, was a key member of the defense team. She says O.J. isn't stupid, and the only way he would have agreed to such an interview is if he spoke hypothetically and assumed the character of the murderer. She says he was told to behave in a certain way during the interview and he did that.

She admits its super weird for O.J. to assume the character of the man who murdered his ex-wife.

Holley says, at the time she and Johnnie represented Simpson, they believed in his innocence. As for whether her view is now shaken ... well, watch what she says.

The man claiming to be Charles Manson's grandson was just given the right to retrieve Manson's body for burial ... but this does not end the family fight for control.

Michael Brunner, the son of Charles Manson and Manson Family member Mary Brunner has just filed legal docs questioning whether Jason Freeman -- the man who was just given control of the body -- is actually the biological grandson of Manson. Brunner notes Freeman has been unwilling to take a DNA test to establish bloodline, and that makes him suspicious.

Brunner and Freeman are both vying for control of Manson's remains and his estate. The estate could be valuable because it can control the use of Manson's name and image. When you look at the estates of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley, it's easy to understand how control can turn into money.

Harvey Levin interviewed Brunner in 1993 when he worked for KCBS in Los Angeles. Among the things they talked about ... whether Michael worried he might have a gene that could cause him to do horrible things like his dad.

O.J. Simpson's confession about killing Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman isn't rattling the manager of one of his new fave hangouts in Nevada ... TMZ has learned.

Simpson's become a frequent customer at Nekter Juice Bar in Summerlin, and a manager there tells us O.J.'s free to continue coming in ... after his bombshell interview on the FOX special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?"

The guy hasn't seen the two-hour special yet, but he says it wouldn't matter -- as long as Simpson's a paying customer, he's welcome at Nekter.

The manager tells us he refuses to treat Simpson differently from his other customers, and says the only reason O.J. wouldn't be welcome is if he started getting rude, rowdy or threatening with staff or guests.

O.J. Simpson copping to leaving the infamous bloody glove at the double murder scene is all former prosecutor Christopher Darden needed to hear to know he was right all along.

Darden, Marcia Clark's co-prosecutor in Simpson's trial of the century, tells us watching "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?" proved Simpson and his dream team outsmarted the jury.

In particular, he says Johnnie Cochran's famous line, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit" just doesn't hold up once you hear Simpson admit he must have left the glove "because they found the glove there." Darden famously came up with the plan to have Simpson try on the gloves in court ... which, of course, backfired on the prosecution.

As for Simpson's hypothetical accomplice named Charlie -- Darden has an explanation, and it's all about O.J.'s imagination.

Bobby Brown says he's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Nick Gordon's girlfriend doesn't suffer the same fate as Bobbi Kristina.

Bobby -- through his attorney Christopher Brown -- says he'd like to personally lend a helping hand to Laura Leal, and offer her services through the Bobbi Kristina Brown Serenity House. Bobby says, "Domestic violence killed my daughter ... I do not want to see any more families destroyed at the hands of domestic violence and I do not want any more women to suffer like my daughter did."

The offer comes a day after Gordon's arrest for domestic violence. As we reported ... Leal told cops he struck her several times after picking him up from a bar. Cops noticed visible marks and arrested Gordon.

O.J. Simpson no longer has black America's backing because they all know now what they refused to believe then -- O.J. is guilty of double murder ... so says 'People v. O.J.' star Keesha Sharp.

We got the actress who played Dale Cochran, Johnnie's wife, outside The Jeremy Hotel in WeHo and asked if she was gonna be watching FOX's special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?" She seemed iffy about it, but regardless had some strong feelings about O.J.

Keesha's adamant people didn't need to watch the special to know what they've ultimately come to realize -- O.J. killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman on the night of June 12, 1994.

O.J. Simpson talked about the slow-speed Bronco chase as if it was a victory for him, because judging from public opinion on the streets -- literally -- all he saw was support.

Simpson told his story to Judith Regan years ago, and it's now the centerpiece of the FOX special based on the book, 'If I Did It.'

This clip is predictably gross ... Simpson, a supreme narcissist, allegedly was contemplating suicide, but when you hear him talk he was reveling in the show of support from people who somehow thought it was a good idea to cheer him on as he drove on the 405.

It's almost like he was taking a poll ... whether people were buying what the media had been telling them all week long -- with blood going from the bodies to his bathroom at Rockingham, and a cut finger that matched a knife wound -- he was guilty as hell.

O.J. Simpson continues to shock, because he blames the people he killed for metaphorically killing him.

It's actually hard to watch, but Simpson says Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, somehow killed him, presumably because their murders put him in a bad spot.

It's an amazing comment, given Judith Regan -- who published "If I Did It" with Simpson -- says Simpson's lawyer called her and confessed the murders to her, and said the only reason the book title needed the word "if" was so O.J. could have deniability with his children.

And for bad measure, Simpson also says he loved Nicole but didn't like her at the time of her death.

Rick Ross isn't the only person to suffer a medical emergency at his home recently ... his manager died there just months before Ross' hospitalization.

According to the investigation report ... cops were called to the rapper's Florida home on December 8 because Black Bo stopped breathing. He was found lying on his back on the bathroom floor when the officer arrived.

Rick's manager was pronounced dead shortly after fire rescue arrived on scene. The captain noted there was vomit in the toilet.

According to the report ... Rick, Black and others were out partying the night before and didn't get back to Ross' home 'til around 5 AM. Rick told the cop Black didn't seem like himself at the club, and may not have been feeling well.

One of Black's friends tried calling Black several times but he didn't answer, so he went into his room and found him unresponsive in the bathroom.

According to the report, the medical examiner determined Black's cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ... clogging of the arteries.

Black Bo was 45.

O.J. Simpson was still married when he first laid eyes on Nicole Brown Simpson, but that didn't stop him from pursuing her and asking her out.

TMZ has obtained an exclusive clip from O.J.'s upcoming two hour sit-down on FOX where he says he met Nicole while she was working at a restaurant called The Daisy.

The Juice didn't get her digits the first time but, as they say, second time's the charm, and plus he had some help.

O.J. says he had to explain to Nicole he was still technically a married man, although it sounds like he was already separated from first wife, Marguerite Whitley. Their marriage ended in 1979.

The special "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?" airs this Sunday at 8 PM.

Harrison Ford is honoring his pal, Mark Hamill, but he also has their beloved co-star Carrie Fisher on the mind.

Han Solo came out to support Luke Skywalker -- sans the Millennium Falcon this time -- as Hamill finally got his well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "Star Wars" creator George Lucas was there too, so definitely a strong presence for the Force.

The most bittersweet moment of the ceremony came when Harrison took a moment to shout out Carrie.

O.J. Simpson was still angry at Nicole Brown Simpson at her funeral, and although he doesn't remember what he said to her when he kissed her goodbye ... he describes what he WANTED to say in this never-before-seen video from the upcoming FOX special, "O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?"

It's all very strange and chilling, as O.J. elaborates to book publisher Judith Regan about the feelings he had toward his ex-wife ... and how his anger toward her didn't disappear after her death.

Simpson then oddly brings Nicole's infamous 911 call up -- where he could be heard yelling at her in the background -- as a way of explaining how he warned her of ... something. He talks in circles, but expresses regret he'll never be able to "have an effect on this person again."

O.J.'s asked what he said to Nicole when he leaned over and kissed her, but says he can't remember. He DOES remember people heard him say, "I'm sorry."

The FOX special also features what seems like a confession to the murders of Nicole and Ron Goldman in 1994, with the premise being it's only "hypothetical."

'The Lost Confession?' airs Sunday at 8 PM.

David Odgen Stiers -- best known for playing Major Charles Winchester on "M*A*S*H" -- has died after a battle with bladder cancer ... according to his agent.

The actor joined the cast of "M*A*S*H" in 1977, playing an arrogant aristocrat and talented surgeon who filled the void left by the departure of the show's Frank Burns character. Stiers did it splendidly too ... earning himself 2 Emmy nominations.

Stiers went on to have a successful career as a voice actor, as well ... voicing characters in popular Disney movies such as Cogsworth in "Beauty and the Beast" and Jumba in "Lilo & Stitch."

In 2009, David revealed he was gay and no longer afraid to hide it, saying in an interview he was "Very proud to be so."

Stiers reportedly died peacefully at his home in Newport, Oregon.

He was 75.